TOMORROW’S GAME
The Rangers will face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden (8:00p.m. — TV: NBCSN; Radio: Bloomberg Radio), as they continue their franchise record nine-game homestand. The Blueshirts rank fourth in the Metropolitan Division standings, and 10th in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 16-17-1 (33 pts). The Rangers enter the contest having defeated the Calgary Flames, 4-3, in the shootout on Sunday and are now 1-3-1 on the homestand. The Blueshirts are tied for fourth in the conference in ROW (15). The Penguins enter the contest with a 24-10-1 (49 pts) record to rank first in the Eastern Conference, and have won nine of their last 10 games. Following the contest, the Rangers will return to action when they face-off against the New York Islanders on Friday, Dec. 20

RANGERS vs. PENGUINS:All-Time: 119-103-23-9 overall (67-50-9-3 at home; 52-54-14-6 on the road)2013-14: Tonight is the second of four meetings this season, and the second and final meeting at Madison Square Garden. New York is 1-0-0 overall (1-0-0 at home; 0-0-0 on the road), following a 5-1 win on Nov. 6 at MSG. The Rangers had 11 different players register a point in their first meeting, while Brian Boyle (one goal, one assist) and Brad Richards (two assists) each tallied two points in the contest. Henrik Lundqvist made 28 saves in the win.Last Season: New York was 1-3-1 overall (1-2-0 at home; 0-1-1 on the road). The Rangers’ power play was 4-16 (25.0%) in the series, while their penalty kill tallied one shorthanded goal. Brad Richards led the Rangers in scoring with five points, and tied with Derek Stepan for the series lead with four assists apiece. Henrik Lundqvist was 1-3-1 with a 2.63 GAA and .906 Sv%.
The Rangers have won their last two meetings against Pittsburgh at Madison Square Garden, and have out-scored the Penguins, 11-2, in those contests.
New York is 6-9-1 at home; Pittsburgh is 9-7-1 on the road.
New York is 5-5-1 vs. Metropolitan Division opponents; Pittsburgh is 11-4-0 vs. Metropolitan Division opponents.
New York lists two former Penguins on their roster: Arron Asham (2010-11 – 2011-12); Dominic Moore (2006-07).
Pittsburgh lists one former Ranger on their roster: Pascal Dupuis (2006-07).

SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Rangers’ power play is 6-30 (20.0%) in the last 10 games.
The Blueshirts’ penalty kill has held opponents scoreless in 13 of the last 17 games (40-44, 90.9% over the span).
Is tied for second in the league with three goals in 5-on-3 situationsPower Play: The Rangers were 0-4 (6:00) on Sunday vs. Calgary. New York ranks 15th in the NHL overall (20-112, 17.9%), and 25th at home (7-55, 12.7%). The Rangers are 3-11 (5:44) in five-on-three situations (last – 12/15 vs. CGY), and 0-1 (0:30) when four-on-three (last – 10/12 at STL). Shorthanded goals allowed (3): 10/8 at SJS (Vlasic); 10/24 at PHI (Read); 11/19 vs. BOS (Paille).Penalty Killing: The Blueshirts were 4-5 (7:25) on Sunday vs. Calgary. New York ranks sixth in the NHL overall (90-105, 85.7%), and is tied 12th at home (39-46, 84.8%). The Rangers are 2-3 (2:49) in three-on-five situations (last – 11/4 vs. ANA), and 4-6 (4:29) when three-on-four (last – 12/15 vs. CGY). Shorthanded goals for (1): 10/7 at LAK (McDonagh).Four-on-Four: New York did not tally/yield a goal in three four-on-four situations (4:19) on Sunday vs. Calgary, and are now -1 in 35 four-on-four situations (53:09) this season. Four-on-four goals for (3): 10/16 at WSH (J. Moore); 10/26 at DET (Brassard); 12/12 vs. CBJ (Girardi). Four-on-four goals allowed (4): 10/3 at PHX (Vrbata); 10/7 at LAK (Muzzin); 10/12 at STL (Backes); 12/8 vs. WSH (Grabovski, PS).

RINGMASTERS: The Rangers have won 231-411 faceoffs (56.2%) through seven games in the month of December, including a season-high, 41 faceoff wins (41-64, 64%), in a 3-1 victory on Dec. 5 at Buffalo. The Blueshirts have five players – Derek Stepan (81-150, 54.0%), Brad Richards (43-74, 58.1%), Dominic Moore (39-57, 68.4%), Derick Brassard (36-68, 52.9%), and Brian Boyle (30-53, 56.6%) – with 30 or more faceoff wins over the span.

BROADWAY DEBUT: Rangers’ defenseman Dylan McIlrath was credited with one hit in 8:55 of ice time while skating in his NHL debut on Thursday against Columbus at Madison Square Garden. He became the second Blueshirt to make his NHL debut this season, along with forward Jesper Fast in the season opener on Oct. 3, 2013 at Phoenix. McIlrath was originally selected by the Rangers as a first round choice, 10th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

NBC SN, FYI, has a ‘Rivalry’ show on 10:30 the night before (at least last night they did) illustrating the genesis of the rivalry between the two teams playing on ‘rivalry Wednesday’.

Have to say, there is past. From the Graves slashes on the ‘biggest complainer ever’, to Orphik’s illegal knee of Step, to Crosby’s uncalled slew foot of Cally, to Henrik calling Crosby out for being an overacting dropsy crybaby, to Torts’ comments about the organization and subsequent fine…..there is some.

Too bad we are ill prepared to play this team now. They are 9-1 in the last 10.

We need to take advantage of their depleted defence and try and pin them in their own end for long stretches, bang the bodies and wear them down. The only guys doing that the other night were Kreider, Moore, Dorse, Pouliot and Hagelin. I really want to see Nash just level someone and say “I’m back!” but he seems to be a bit more tentative with the contact.

I’ll chip in: Giacomin/Villemure were really good, especially ’70-’71 and ’71-’72. But Eddie, as beloved as he was, never stole a series for the NYR
in the playoffs. Never singlehandedly put the team on his back and willed them over the top. Truth be told, never quite as great as the legend would suggest. Villemure’s appearances in the playoffs, signficantly vs. the Bruins in Game 6 of the SC Finals at MSG in ’72, show that Emile Francis’ faith in Eddie was anything but absolute.

I mean, Thornton jumps Orpik, who gets hurt. But then Thornton appeals his suspension and Orpik’s dues to the NHLPA go to assist in reducing the penalty! Same thing with Richards and Kaleta. Richards is like Czar of the NHLPA. It’s insanity.

But I still think that the suspensions and penalties are very, very severe. More than in any other sport since a player like Neal forfeited $112K. That’s nuts.

Realize we are talking apples and hand grenades when comparing two sports, but there are some analogs for suspension based lost pay in NFL.

in 2011, Detroit lineman Suh was suspended 2 games and forfeited $165K+ of salary. NFL hands out way less than these, but there is precendent.

Most of the NFL suspensions are substance abuse related. Von Miller’s lost salary of $806,161.76 (based on a full 2013 base salary of $2,284,125), his total financial losses for the six-game suspension will be *$2,020,425.76*

Definitely The Doctor. I’m shocked at the NHLPA but it’s the same thing they all do. As an attorney, I don’t see how it’s not a conflict of interest. They are essentially represneting *both* sides of the issue.

For all the Nash bashing going on, it is interesting to note that both Step (1st goal in 11 games; +2) and THE Kreider; (1st goal in 5; +2) both scored while playing on his line last game.
He may not be physically engaged, but still has teams focused on him, thereby creating room for others with the talent to take advantage of it.

Manny, you wonder if the problem is that Shanahan works for the league and not for the PA or as a neutral. Its almost like injury suspensions are treated as offenses against the league rather than offenses against the player.

Things need to be relative. A 2 game suspension in the NFL is 1/8 of the season.

Baseball has 162 game season if i’m not mistaken. Suspending a player for 3 or 5 games is meaningless. It’s over in an instant. Now, the penalties for PED violations are steep. THAT is a deterrent.

Hockey has an 82 game season. 2 games is not even a slap on the wrist. 15 games for Thornton is appropriate for what he did. Actually, IMO he should have got MORE. That wasn’t a hockey play, it wasn’t even a questionable hit from behind. It was a flat out assault. He has the right to appeal, but I think the NHL should uphold the suspension.

If the Thorton/Kaleta’s of the league knew they were going to be fined $1,000,000 and the Team $1,000,000 it would come to an end. They would think twice before they committed such a crime.

And the owner of the team, might think twice of employing such a player.

Just think if it ended a players career, as in Steve Moore’s hit. $2 wouldn’t even scratch the surface of what that player could have made. Personally I think Bertuzzi got off to easy by the NHL. Steve Moore gets his day in court come September 2014, he is asking for $38M against Bertuzzi. (I’m thinking he gets at least half of that amount, he hasn’t played a game since).

Agreed 100% Wicky. The Bertuzzo and Engelland hits are fine. I’m also pretty fine with the Wilson hit. He’s flying so it’s charging or whatever but Schenn cannot be in that part of the ice with his head down.

Guys used to go into the corners and the “dirty areas” expecting to get drilled. Thus, absord the hit and THEN move the puck. Now they try to make a fancy play with their head down and then turn into a hit to draw a penalty.

Clearly a bad move on schenns part turning into the boards, charging for sure…waaaaay to much speed in the game (as I’ve said many times here).

If the league is serious about safety, it will focus on slowing the game down not knee jerk fighting and hit responses.

And if the league is really worried about “goon” only players, perhaps it should put in minimum ice time rules. IE a player in your line up must play a minimum of 8 minutes a game or something like that.

Sather: “I just … I know this is awkward for a veteran to hear. I spent most of the morning trying to put the right words together but it never really sounded the way I wanted but I have to say it anyway. Here it goes … you have _amazing_ eyes. Seriously … like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I’m a 100% heterosexual man and I melt. I hope that wasn’t weird. Also, I traded you to Columbus this morning. They’re expecting you later tonight.”

I think the Wilson hit is really bad. It’s a textbook charge obviously, cause he accelerates before the hit, but it’s so dangerous to do that so close to the boards, regardless of whether Schenn’s head is up or down. It’s one thing to get drilled but to charge a guy so close to the boards is just reckless.

= In accordance of Holidays’ Spirit =
Thank you JAMES for affordable seats and food for at MSG.
Thank you GLEN for our long,Happy Childhood and quiet, careless Golden Years without silver.
Thank you ALAIN for giving us a Hope albeit short lived.
Thank you 16 NHL teams for giving us a Joy of Victory this season even against our will and efforts.
Thank you all Rangers fans for knowing game better than professional coaches and players, rules – better then referees and NHL business and finances better then any GMs, administrators and CPAs on a payroll.

I have to give Emile credit for purchasing Eddie G. for 25K from an AHL team, Providence, I believe it was, at age 25, and having the guts to install Eddie as the main man in the nets, for so long.

Where Emile lacked courage was in 1966-1967, when he went with three stopgap, veteran, defensemen to round out the D and go with Howell and Neilson – talking about Wayne Hillman, the wretchedly deficient Arnie Brown, and backup D Al MacNeil – all the while having Rod Seiling and the wonderfully pugnacious Bob Plager as young kids who were already ahead of the three plugs in terms of what they brought to the games.

This team collapsed from second to fourth place on the final weekend, that season, all because the lack of depth and quality on the blueline caught up with them and killed them. Then, in game one in Montreal, this team again collapsed, blowing a 4-1 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the game, in what qualifies for me as one of the three most painful losses the Rangers have suffered, in my considerable time as a fan and supporter of this team, the other two being game seven vs. Philadelphia, in 1974 – the Captain Vic Hadfield joking about defeat in the penalty box at the end of the game debacle; and the 4-3 loss in Chicago which kept the Rangers out of a SC Final they could have won, that year. The Rangers had the better record in a stronger division, but Chicago got the home game seven. It was highway robbery for the league to shaft the Rangers like that – but they wimped out and accepted it.

Being surprised Pyatt couldn’t perform in the top 6 is as dumb as expecting Brassard to be *consistent* playing with garbageheads. Maybe AV should have watched a little video of last year so he knew what the hell he had on his roster.

It is a proviso of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement that limits the movement of players around the Christmas holiday.

Simply stated, it prevents any players on NHL active rosters or injured reserve from being traded, waived or loaned from midnight (local time) Dec. 19 until midnight (local time) on Dec. 27.

There are a couple of exceptions to this rule. Teams may sign players during the roster freeze or call up players if roster space becomes available. Also, if a player is placed on waivers before Dec. 19, he must immediately report to any team that claims him during the Holiday Roster Freeze period.

NHL clubs also can make any roster moves necessary to come into salary-cap and roster limits when removing a player from the Bona Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception.*

So with Callahan out and Miller in the AHL, is it fair to say that only 75% of our forwards are guys a normal team would really want active? Boyle, Brassard, Dorsett, Hags, Kreider, Nash, Richards, Stepan and Zucc. Right? That’s gross. And of the other 4 options, its 3 guys 32+ and a 27 year old enigma. Upside is for nerds.

In all this discussion about hits, most important IMHO, is INTENTIONS. Intentions matters – my blood boils when I see intentional actions to make a physical damage to opponents (except fair fights) and I do believe that it’s a defining factor when board determine longevity of suspension. Understood, it sometimes hard to defy. I for one, consider Wilson hit reckless, but not intentional, when Thornton(regardless, BTW, of outcome – degree of inflicted injuries), deserves a fire squad without parole…

May as well, Sioux. The veteran merry-go-round gets more and more annoying with each wrong decision made. Maybe keep Dom Moore around for now as a rotation 12/13, dump Pyatt, Asham and Poo (unless you think his last few games are a sign and not the standard flash) and bring up Kristo and Miller and whichever other forward you think is the best two way guy at this point and atleast make it fun to watch.

The Cat built up Eddie Giacomins confidence when after fans at the old garden peppered him with garbage he told him “your my goaltender” The Cat was no fool though he had Cesar Maniago as his backup just in case. What else could he do with Marcel Paille and Don Simmons as backups in the organ-I-zation?

A phone hearing for Wilson is just a joke. All this garbage about the code and protecting other players and a mad dash from the blue line to blast a guy into the boards is going to get a couple. The Flyers are gross, but if someone chops Wilson’s wrist next game, I wouldn’t blame them one bit.

have to say I don’t have as big a problem with the Wilson hit as Thornton punching Orpik in the face. I think Wilson definitely overdid it and shouldn’t have accelerated the way he did but Schenn also has a responsibility to not put himself in that position.

Schenn was skating with the puck, head down, completely oblivious to the presence of opposing players. Not to say he deserved the full severity of that hit, but if you skate anywhere on the ice that way, let alone toward/near the opponents net, you should get hit.

I said it above, and it’s how I feel, a couple years ago that play didn’t happen because no one was stupid enough to put themselves in that position. No player went into the corners or against the boards not expecting to be hit. Now it’s play the puck first, worry about getting hit second.

problem is that even if Wilson doesn’t accelerate the way he did and Schenn ends up going headfirst into the glass, you’d likely have the same call for justice we’ve got now. I just think it’s just that the NHL is so patently stupid when it comes out to policing all aspects of the game that no one really knows what the so-called code is.

Dumb / oblivious play does not call for a pretty obviously predatory hit. There was no good possible outcome there. I get it was cool when Stevens used to do it but every generation gets a little smarter, right?

(I don’t mind frontier justice, Manny, but note I said wrist. Last thing I want is someone to kill Wilson to avenge the hit.)

as was already said Schenn deserved to be it, just not with the severity Wilson applied. that has to be taken into account when meting out a penalty. if Schenn’s skating without the puck and gets hit that way, sure, suspend Wilson for as long as you want. but you have to acknowledge the recklessness of Schenn in all of this, too.

Kind of bummed that Dylan will be McIlscratched. I’m wondering if the thinking is that he has no business being on the ice at potentially the same time as Cindy?
And would AV pair back up McD & Girardi to go against her?
Hmmmmm

young players are in a position to fail, and for that matter, succeed, every time they’re on the ice. I don’t buy into this coddling of young players, especially supposed tough guys. if you’re bringing the guy up from the AHL, play him in a meaningful game and see what happens.

And I agree with Lloyd! If you think a guy is so fragile he can’t handle a mistake on the ice, what makes you think showing a lack of confidence in him and putting him in the press box won’t break him just as much?

This has gone far enough. We come here and we quibble about Sather and Poulet and ghosts of the past.

But the bottom line is that this team is utter garbage. It’s like the Cowboys of the NHL. Seriously. An always-talked-about franchise who’s done back bit since 1994.

Anyone know their record since 1994? I’m too lazy to compile but I bet it’s under .500.

And it’s a record that smells of garbage … or, rather, Ranger.

The team knows it has clowns like us in the bag. And the clowns who attend the games in the bag. Real fans and texting-dooche$ alike. It doesn’t matter if they lose 81 games, they’ll still bank.

They should just try to win the Stanley Cup for fun. What a concept! I mean, here’s a revenue-winning team with the ultimate safety net actually trying to win. Crazy, I know.

But instead? Instead the maroons keep mercenaries in the office and no-talents in the locker room and then pray every night that somehow they’ll come out on top and keep pulling the wool over our eyes.

Darren Dreger reports that Glen Sather continues to shop defenseman Michael Del Zotto, and the expected return is a young defenseman.

He notes that the Leafs are interested, but the asking price “may be too steep” for them. Dreger suggests Cody Franson would be a likely target for the Rangers, as he’s a right defenseman. Franson has one year of RFA eligibility before he’s eligible to become a UFA in the summer of 2015. However, he’s greatly outperforming Del Zotto at the moment, so I’m not sure Del Zotto holds enough value to get it done.

Dreger also reports the Sens interest in Del Zotto has cooled due to the emergence of Cody Ceci.

Franson would be cool, but I don’t think he has a shutdown or a PMD rep, right? More of a physical 2RD? Also, he obviously hates hockey and doesn’t know his place young man because he went the Stepan route this year.

1.) A good team doesn’t *need* a great PP to win the Cup (_See_ Bruins)

2.) A good PP doesn’t require a BOMB of a point shot or anything like that. Accuracy > Power

That said, this is *not* a good team and the Rangers need to have a *ton* more efficiency on their PP to be successful. The 2011-2012 team did *not* need that success.
This team also doesn’t have many players that can *put the puck on net* with any sort of consistency and therefore, might benefit from a *bomb*

The most interesting thing about King Charles, the first
Is that he was 5 foot 6 inches tall at the start of his reign
But only 4 foot 8 inches tall at the end of it because of
Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England Puritan
Born in 1599 and died in 1658 September

Was at first only MP for Hunting Don, but then he led the Ironside Cavalry
At Mars ton Moor in 1644 and won then he founded the New Model Army
And praise be, beat the Cavaliers at Naisby and the King fled up North
Like a bat to the Scots

But under the terms of John Pimm’s Solemn League and Covenant
The Scots handed King Charles the first, over to
Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England and his warts
Born in 1599 and died in 1658 September

But alas, oy vay! The disagreement then broke out between
The Presbyterian Parliament and the Military who meant
To have an independent bent and so the 2nd Civil War broke out
And the Roundhead ranks faced the Cavaliers at Preston Banks
And the King lost again, silly thing, stupid Git

And Cromwell sent Colonel Pride to purge the House of Commons
Of the Presbyterian Royalists leaving behind only the rump Parliament
Which appointed a High Court at Westminster Hall to indict
Charles, the first for tyranny, ooh! Charles was sentenced to death
Even though he refused to accept that the court had jurisdiction
Say goodbye to his head

Poor King Charles laid his head on the block
January 1649, down came the axe and in the silence that followed
The only sound that could be heard was a solitary giggle from
Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, ole
Born in 1599 and died in 1658 September

Then he smashed Ireland, set up the Commonwealth and more
He crushed the Scots at Worcester and beat the Dutch at sea in 1653
And then he dissolved the rump Parliament
And with Lambert’s consent wrote the instrument of Government
Under which Oliver was Protector at last

‘Louis the Sixteenth was the King of France in 1789.
He was worse than Louis the Fifteenth.
He was worse than Louis the Fourteenth.
He was worse than Louis the Thirteenth.
He was the worst since Louis the First.
King Louis was living like a king, but the people were living rotten.
So the people, they started an uprising
which they called the
French Revolution, and of course you remember their battle cry,
which will never be forgotten:
You went the wrong way, Old King Louie.
You made the population cry.
‘Cause all you did was sit and pet
With Marie Antoinette
In your place at Versailles.
And now the country’s gone kablooie.
So we are giving you the air.
That oughta teach you not to
Spend all your time fooling ’round
At the Folies Bergere.
If you had been a nicer king,
We wouldn’t do a thing,
But you were bad, you must admit.
We’re gonna take you and the Queen
Down to the guillotine,
And shorten you a little bit.’

You can’t learn NHL defense playing in Hartford. There is no substitute for pro experience. Most guys have growing pains when they jump to the NHL, especially D men. McIlrath is not the fastest skater, but he will learn to be more responsible, and position better. And he’s a bruiser. I don’t need him to skate like McD… I need him to put the fear of god in people.
NOBODY on our backline does that currently. Falk tries… but McIlrath was drafted for a reason.

Size and grit over skating and finesse. I’m ok with it. He made a ‘rookie mistake’ and got caught with a bad pinch against Columbus.

Seeing him drop the mitts with McGrattan made it worth it.
Who else was going to do that? Dorsett? Boyle?

My problem is that everyone keeps getting all up in arms about McIlrath’s skating ability. Physicality can make up for a lack of skating ability especially high in the defensive zone. If a guy is going to beat him he just knocks the guy over. If he’s down near the crease, where he will end up playing a lot of his career, who cares about his skating?

McIlrath is a necessity and benching him tonight is asinine.

And on that rookie mistake against CBJ, there was an entire ice full of players that could have covered and Stralman TOTALLY blew his coverage as did the Center.

Which is what this team should be doing because this team is *terrible* Falk isn’t much better than McIlrath. He’s a “veteran” or whatever but he can’t fight his way out of a paper bag. He’s positionally better but equally slow and less physical.

Playing against Crosby would be an amazing experience and very valuable for the kid.

Ulfie was a pretty snarly D-man in his day. I’ll put my faith that with him as a coach, and the leadership of Girardi, McDonagh, and Staal (providing he gets back soon), that McIlrath will improve his positional play, make less mistakes, and settle in to his role.

The Rangers need a bruising D man. I’ve said it before, If McIlrath can become a Beukeboom type player, that would be perfect in my eyes.

” At 6’5″ 230 lbs, he quickly established himself as a fan favourite and an anchor of the defence with his bodychecks and *willingness to protect his teammates, through fighting if necessary*. He played on the top defensive pairing with Brian Leetch, and was an alternate captain. Beukeboom’s stay-at-home play allowed Leetch to lead the rush and *kept opposing players out of the goal crease*. ”

If MacDiesel became that…. who would mind the occasional blown coverage or bad pinch???

I don’t understand why our Defensive pairings never have BALANCE in styles of play. Vigneault and these other morons are all about stats and who shoots with which hand rather than just letting people play their *Style* of defense and have it balanced by another guy playing the opposite *style*

Question, if McIllrath will be “learning” at the NHL level which frankly makes little sense.

What are they “teaching”in Hartford and is Schnony not capable of same?

Does it require a coach at the top level to teach or is that done as the natural course of events in the minors, does a player with batting flaws come up to MLB and a batting coach suddenly create an all star?

McIllrath’s drafting was Sather’s over reaction to not having either developed, traded or acquired same.

How many Ovechkins, Crosby’s, Toews, Kane’s, Datsyuk’s, Zetterbergs… etc, are there playing in the AHL?

Is there talent there? Sure. Can coaches teach there? Sure.

There is no way to learn how to play against the best, until you’ve played against the best.

Again, I don’t have any dilusions of MacDiesel being a 30 goal scorer, or dangling past guys in the neutral zone. He’s not built that way. We need a big, phyiscal, tough d-man, who will do what is needed to protect his net, and his teammates.

He is exactly that. I don’t need him to be more. The Rangers don’t need him to be more, they just want him to be better at defending… which will come in time.

Bet you Big Mac is dispatched to Hartford before he plays another game for the Rangers. It’s the “Sather Way,” -giving kids two games to make it to the HOF, or head back to Siberia-East for an extended sentence.

At the draft, I loved the pic. I still like the pic now. I’m not one of these Negative nancy Ranger fans, who is only happy when they are crying about one thing or another, and complaining about the entire team. If you guys want to have a pity party, no need to save me a seat.

I try to find the upside in a situation if one is available.
You say i’m assuming improvement which has not been evident to date. I prefer to have more than 2 games to form or re-form an opinion.
You want to doubt him. Go ahead. You want to assume he’ll be a bust, go ahead. You want to nitpick and chastise him and his abilities, go for it.

Nobody knows how it will turn out. Not me, not you, nor any other person on this blog. All we can do is assume. And i for one, would rather assume he will be a role player and a solid piece of the puzzle.

If you want to assume he sucks, and he can never learn to be better, that’s your perogative man.

I don’t know what many of you see in MacDiesel.
He can’t skate, his positioning suck.
Do you want him to get stuck on the ice vs Crosby?
I practically never agree with Comnsnse, but I do in ref to McIlrath. He was slated to go late 1st earlier 2nd round, but 10th was too much. He is only good for fighting.
Why do Red Wings have no goon on the team and still play tough?

if you tell me McIlrath is Jeff Beukeboom, I’ll sign for that in a second

and yeah, the issue with McIlrath is indisputable: shouldn’t have been taken 10th in the 1st round. pretty much everyone knew this with the possible exception of Glenn Sather. you take him 19 or 20 and no one would have a problem with it. but 10? too early.

Well done, Gift! I’m with you. We are all amateurs trying to pretend we know better than pros. We don’t. All we can do is assume. And our assumptions differ, to say the least. Whatever makes you feel better, I suppose.

Got to love the “indisputable” statement. Indisputable by whom exactly?

The Rangers didn’t have another pick until #40, so if they were high on McIlrath (and felt reasonably sure he’d be taken by then, which seems likely), then it makes sense that they would take him there.

I wonder if the pick would have been different had they known what they had in Sauer at the time.